Calibrachoa plant named ‘Wescasuno’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Calibrachoa  plant named ‘Wescasuno’, characterized by its cascading and uniform growth habit; freely branching habit and short internodes; dense and bushy plant habit; medium-sized leaves; medium-sized flowers; and numerous golden yellow-colored flowers.

Botanical designation: Calibrachoa sp.

Variety denomination: ‘Wescasuno’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofCalibrachoa plant, botanically known as Calibrachoa sp., and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name ‘Wescasuno’.

The new Calibrachoa is a product of a planned breeding program conductedby the Inventor in Südlohn, Germany. The new Calibrachoa originated froma cross-pollination made by the Inventor of a proprietary selection ofCalibrachoa identified as code number 01P407, not patented, as thefemale, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Calibrachoaidentified as code number 01P107, not patented, as the male, or pollen,parent. The new Calibrachoa was discovered and selected by the Inventorin 2001 in a controlled environment in Südlohn, Germany as a singleplant within the resulting progeny from the cross-pollination.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings atSüdlohn, Germany since 2002, has shown that the unique features of thisnew Calibrachoa are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the cultivar Wescasuno have not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary withvariations in environment such as temperature, light intensity anddaylength without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Wescasuno’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Wescasuno’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Cascading and uniform growth habit.    -   2. Freely branching habit and short internodes, dense and bushy        plant habit.    -   3. Medium-sized leaves.    -   4. Medium-sized flowers.    -   5. Numerous golden yellow-colored flowers.

Plants of the cultivar Wescasuno can be compared to plants of the femaleparent selection. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Südlohn,Germany, plants of the new Calibrachoa differed from plants of thefemale parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa had smaller flowers than plants        of the female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and the female parent selection        differed in flower color as plants of the female parent        selection had lighter yellow-colored flowers.

Plants of the cultivar Wescasuno can be compared to plants of the maleparent selection. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Südlohn,Germany, plants of the new Calibrachoa differed from plants of the maleparent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa had smaller leaves than plants        of the male parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa had narrower stems than plants        of the male parent selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and the male parent selection        differed in flower color.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can also be compared to plants of theCalibrachoa cultivar Wescasun, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,756.In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Südlohn, Germany, plants of thenew Calibrachoa differed from plants of the cultivar Wescasun in thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa had stronger stems than plants        of the cultivar Wescasun.    -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa had smaller leaves than plants        of the cultivar Wescasun.    -   3. Plants of the new Calibrachoa had smaller flowers than plants        of the cultivar Wescasun.    -   4. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and the cultivar Wescasun        differed in flower color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Calibrachoa.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective viewof typical flowering plants of ‘Wescasuno’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of atypical flower and leaves of ‘Wescasuno’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used in the aforementioned photographs and for the followingdescription were grown under conditions which closely approximatecommercial production conditions during the spring and summer in aglass-covered greenhouse in Südlohn, Germany. Plants were about 20 weeksfrom planting rooted cuttings and grown in containers. During theproduction of the plants, the day temperatures ranged from 20 to 25° C.,night temperatures ranged from 16 to 18° C. and light levels ranged from3,000 to 50,000 lux.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Calibrachoa sp. cultivar Wescasuno.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary selection of Calibrachoa sp.            identified as 01P407, not patented.        -   Male parent.—Proprietary selection of Calibrachoa sp.            identified as 01P107, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About 18 to 20 days at 20° C.        -   Time to develop roots.—About 20 to 28 days at 20° C.        -   Root description.—Numerous, fine, fibrous, and            well-branched.-   Plant description:    -   -   Form.—Annual flowering plant; cascading; uniform, rounded            appearance, plants eventually become spherical in overall            shape. Freely branching with lateral branches forming at            every node. Vigorous growth habit.        -   Usage.—Appropriate for hanging baskets, window boxes and            patio containers.        -   Plant height (from soil level to top of plant plane).—About            18 to 29 cm.        -   Plant length (from soil level to lateral branches            apices).—About 80 cm.        -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 60 cm.        -   Stem description.—Main branches, length: About 65 cm. Main            branches, diameter: About 2.5 mm. Lateral branches, length:            About 30 to 36 cm. Lateral branches, diameter: About 1.3 mm.            Internode length: About 1.2 cm. Texture: Pubescent.            Strength: Strong, wiry. Color: 144B.        -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternate; simple;            sessile. Length: About 3.6 cm. Width: About 1 cm. Shape:            Oblanceolate. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire.            Aspect: Mostly flat. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:            Sparsely pubescent. Venation: Pinnate. Color: Developing            foliage, upper surface: 146A to 146B. Developing foliage,            lower surface: 146B. Fully expanded foliage, upper surface:            137A; midvein, 137B. Fully expanded foliage, lower surface:            137C; midvein, 137D.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and habit.—Medium-sized flowers; flowers face            upright or outward; single, axillary. Flowers not            persistent. Freely flowering with flowers forming at every            axil.        -   Natural flowering season.—Spring until frost in the autumn;            flowering continuous.        -   Flowering longevity on the plant.—About one week.        -   Flower size.—Diameter: About 3 cm. Depth (height): About            2.1 cm. Tube length: About 1.4 cm. Throat diameter, distal            end: About 1 cm. Tube diameter, proximal end: About 3 mm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.4 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.            Shape: Oblong. Color: Towards the base, 1C; mid-section, 1C,            venation, 166A; towards the apex, 35C, venation, 166A.        -   Corolla.—Arrangement/appearance: Single whorl of five            petals, fused into flared trumpet. Petal length from throat:            About 1.2 cm. Petal width: About 1.4 cm. Petal shape:            Roughly spatulate with rounded to slightly acute apex. Petal            margin: Entire. Petal texture, upper and lower surfaces:            Smooth, satiny. Color: Petal, when opening, upper surface:            12A. Petal, when opening, lower surface: 12C to 12D. Petal,            fully opened, upper surface: 12A to 12C; venation, 165A to            165B overlain with 185A. Petal, fully opened, lower surface:            12D; venation, 165A. Flower throat (inside): 12A; venation,            166A. Flower tube (outside): 12C; venation, 187A.        -   Sepals.—Arrangement/appearance: Single whorl of five sepals,            star-shaped. Length: About 1.3 cm. Width: About 3.3 mm.            Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture,            upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper surface:            137B to 137C. Color, lower surface: 138A.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2.1 cm. Width: About 0.9 mm.            Strength: Flexible, wiry. Texture: Slightly pubescent.            Color: 144A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quanity per flower: Five.            Anther shape: Four-parted, ovate. Anther length: About            1.2 mm. Anther diameter: About 1.1 mm. Filament length:            About 8 mm. Filament color: 145C. Anther color: 12B. Pollen            amount: Moderate. Pollen color: 12A. Pistils: Quantity per            flower: One. Pistil length: About 1.1 cm. Stigma shape:            Ovate. Stigma color: 143A. Style length: About 7 mm. Style            color: 145B. Ovary color: 145B.        -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production has not been observed.-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not been    noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Calibrachoa.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have been    observed to be tolerant to temperatures ranging from 2 to 30° C.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant named ‘Wescasuno’,as illustrated and described.